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OD grad cheers with Purdue at national championship

HAMLET — Oregon-Davis grad and current Purdue sophomore Kelsey Minix recently returned from the 2012 UCA College Cheerleading national championship at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Minix, who competed in Florida her junior and senior year of high school and her freshman year of college at Indiana University Bloomington, said that this year's event was especially challenging as it was her first time competing on a coed team.
"We were in Division I, and it was the hardest division down there," said Minix. "I wasn't used to going up against so many other schools on a coed team."
Minix and her 17 teammates performed a 2 1/2 minute routine that involved two different basket tosses, three different pyramids, partner stunting, tumbling, and cheering with signs.
"It was a lot to fit into 2 1/2 minutes," said Minix, who added that any type of partner stunting is her favorite move to perform.
When they weren't on the floor, the Purdue team had the chance to mingle with other teams and enjoy their Disney World passes.
"There's probably 200 plus teams down there, and you have time to meet people and hang out with them," said Minix. "It's just a cool experience, to see people from other teams that you never get to see, and spend time bonding with your own team."
The Purdue team advanced to the semi-finals, proving that their hard work since the beginning of the school year was all worth it. For next year, Minix plans to try out for the Purdue team again and also try out for Team USA cheerleading.
"I hope we can start working right away (next year) to get more advanced skills and advance our place," said Minix.
Minix is studying elementary education at Purdue, with the goal of becoming a kindergarten teacher.